Promoting Australian pinot noir and chardonnay internationally
Murray Davey TyrrellAM (10 February 1921 – 2 October 2000)[1] was an Australian winemaker.[2][3]
He served in armed force during World War II and then later worked as cattleman.[4] In 1959 he took over the Tyrell's family winery.[4]
With Len Evans, Tyrrell developed the Rothbury estate from the late 60s until their relationship ended in 1981.[5]
He was prominent in the development of the wine industry in the Hunter ValleyofNew South Wales, and for many years was regarded as the leading promoter and spokesperson for the wine industry there, popularizing Australian pinot noir and chardonnay. He was an advocate for traditional winemaking, against the industry's move towards more technological winemaking from around the 70s.[5]
In November 1988, the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation suspended his export licence following the discovery that Tyrrell's Vineyards wine contained excessive levels of sorbitol, a banned although non-toxic additive. It was restored a few weeks later after Tyrrell's Vineyards promised to follow the rules. There were concerns this would be damaging to the Australian export market in light of the effects of similar scandals in Chernobyl and Austria.[5]
